Chapter 102: The Trap is Sprung
Of course, Akatsurugi also shot a sidelong glance at Sarutobi Hiruzen. Was the old man not tempted? If they followed Ōnoki's plan, Hiruzen could simply issue orders claiming enemy forces were infiltrating other fronts—orders Ōnoki would fully cooperate with. In doing so, Hiruzen would not only be blameless but could even claim credit for defending Konoha's borders. Meanwhile, Akatsurugi would be left to face twenty thousand enemies alone. No matter who perished, no one could lay the blame at Hiruzen's feet.
Yet, Hiruzen had shown him the scroll directly. It was clear the Third Hokage still possessed a bottom line, not yet having sunk to the depths of political corruption he would in his later years.
However, Akatsurugi would not abandon his pursuit of the Hokage's seat out of gratitude. Only by becoming Hokage could he securely hold power and shield himself from the schemes of others. A shinobi of his power, if not the Hokage, would inevitably be seen as a threat and a loose end by people like Danzō, inviting endless trouble. To avoid that future, he must seize control.
"Hokage-sama," Akatsurugi said after a moment's consideration. "Since this is their plan, you should agree to it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback for a second, then let out a short laugh. "You plan to turn their own trap against them."
Akatsurugi smiled and nodded. "Exactly. We'll use their strategy as our own."
Hiruzen pondered for a long moment, a note of genuine concern in his voice. "But... are you sure you'll be alright? I don't want to see you broken by this."
At that moment, Akatsurugi radiated an aura of absolute self-assurance. As long as he did not wish to die, there was no one in the current shinobi world capable of killing him. The only possible exception would be if Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself descended. And even then, he was confident he could put up a formidable fight.
Seeing Akatsurugi's unwavering confidence, a strange sense of wistfulness passed over Hiruzen. Maybe I am truly getting old, he thought, despite being in his prime. Why else would such thoughts plague him?
Shaking his head to clear it, Hiruzen said, "Since you've decided, I will make the arrangements."
As time passed, the sun began to set, painting the sky in a gorgeous tapestry of orange and purple. In accordance with Sarutobi Hiruzen's deployment, the nearly twenty thousand Konoha shinobi began to move. They organized into smaller units and marched out of the camp in an orderly, pre-planned exodus.
The ninja moved with purpose, their expressions serious and focused. They checked their gear, gripped their weapons, and moved under the direction of experienced team captains. The camp buzzed with tense activity, every shinobi aware that this operation was critical not just for their own survival, but for the future of Konoha itself.
As the last unit departed, the camp grew quiet, leaving behind only a skeleton crew to maintain the perimeter.
Naturally, this mass movement did not escape the notice of Iwagakure's sensory units. The intelligence was rushed to the Tsuchikage.
Ōnoki and Dodai had been waiting anxiously, uncertain if Hiruzen would take the bait. In their view, Akatsurugi was already a singular figure in Konoha; surely Hiruzen wouldn't willingly hand him the hat.
The tension in the command tent was palpable. Suddenly, a ninja burst in. "Lord Tsuchikage! Movement in the Konoha camp! A large number of their forces are leaving in batches!"
Ōnoki shot to his feet. "Details!"
The ninja quickly relayed everything the sensory team had observed.
A brilliant light of triumph ignited in Ōnoki's and Dodai's eyes. Sarutobi Hiruzen was that short-sighted! He had actually abandoned Akatsurugi! Ōnoki nearly laughed aloud.
"Now! Execute the plan!" Ōnoki barked, his voice cracking with anticipation.
The combined armies of Iwa and Kumo began their final, deadly advance.
Akatsurugi simply waited in his tent. He knew they were coming.
He could sense them, not with chakra, but with something more fundamental. Every soul was unique, and he could feel a vast tide of them now converging on his location.
"Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
From high in the sky, Ōnoki unleashed his ultimate technique, a glowing cube of light aimed directly at Akatsurugi's tent.
Just before the Dust Release could atomize the structure, Akatsurugi shot out of it. The tent behind him vanished into nothingness. He looked up at Ōnoki. "I've been waiting for you."
"Akatsurugi! You knew we were coming? And you stayed?" Ōnoki was shocked, a cold dread seeping into his heart. Could it be that even with this combined army, they still couldn't kill this man?
"Heh." Akatsurugi offered no explanation. His gaze shifted to where the Fourth Raikage, Dodai, was stepping out from the tree line.
Then, thousands of meters away, curtains of shimmering light rose into the sky. A yellowish-brown liquid, Dodai's Lava Release, flowed over the top of these barriers, sealing the area in a colossal, fiery dome.
"Is this your trump card?" Akatsurugi's voice was flat, devoid of fear. "The lives of twenty thousand shinobi? It's not enough."
"Akatsurugi, anyone can boast! But today, you die here!" Ōnoki snarled, another Dust Release cube forming between his hands.
"Haha!" Akatsurugi's sneer echoed across the enclosed space, a sound of pure contempt. Simultaneously, an overwhelming power erupted from his body, instantly igniting the air around him into a maelstrom of fire. The flames coalesced and expanded, completely enveloping him until a giant of pure flame, dozens of meters tall, stood where he had been.
The Blaze God Mode was awe-inspiring. Its body glowed with incandescent light and radiated blistering heat. Every slight movement made the flames dance and swirl, speaking to the immense power contained within. Its head shone with a golden corona, and its eyes blazed with majestic authority. In its hands, it held a colossal sword of concentrated flame, the tip of which gleamed with a sharpness that seemed capable of shearing through any obstacle.
"Blaze God Mode," Akatsurugi stated calmly. This was a technique he had developed based on the principles of the Susano'o. Dozens of meters was not his limit—he could surpass a hundred. But for now, for them, it was more than enough.
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